Sean Dunn closes the doors of Alpha Thrift’s downtown digs for
the last time Sunday evening, bringing to an abrupt conclusion
Alpha’s 39-year presence on State Street. According to Dunn, Alpha
was chased out of downtown by prohibitive rents, and will soon open
a new and bigger space in Goleta on Hollister Avenue near Kellogg.
Dunn said Alpha was paying $28,500 per month for its quarters in
the 1100 block of State Street, but then landlord Jim Knell of SIMA
Corporation wanted more than $40,000 per month to extend the
store’s lease. When Alpha relocated from the 600 block of State
Street 10 years ago, its rent was $11,500. There were no farewell
festivities to mark Alpha’s passing from the downtown scene. “It
was too depressing and we were too sad to do that,” said Dunn.
“We’d rather do something when we open in Goleta.”
